Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 25, 2024 22:24:35 GMT 12
From The Press, 7 October 1972
THE GOOSE FLOATS
(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) AUCKLAND, Oct. 6.
When a Mount Cook Airlines Grumman Goose amphibian landed at Mechanics Bay, Auckland, yesterday, it answered a question puzzling the American pilot, Mr F. Schlienz, who ferried the plane 16,000 miles. “I was wondering all the way if she would float,” said Mr Schlienz, who had to fly the “wrong way” around the world from the United States because of limited flight range.
He took three weeks and landed at airports in Canada, Iceland, Britain, Europe, the Middle East and Australia. The 11-seat Goose, which is an overgrown Widgeon, was built in 1942 and used during the Second World War by the United States Navy.
It was mothballed at the end of the war and bought by Mount Cook Airlines for $150,000. It will go into service on the Auckland-Bay of Islands route on November 1 after minor engineering work and crew training.
The Goose was modified in Miami and was flown to Auckland in Mount Cook livery.
Mr Schlienz, aged 53, of El Paso, Texas, has been a ferry pilot for three years. Formerly a lieutenant-colonel in the United States Air Force, he flew Boeing 707 tankers and has 11,000 hours flying experience on 55 different types of aircraft.
“The trip out here took 140 flying hours because the Goose is not exceptionally fast, cruising about 125 knots,” he said.
THE GOOSE FLOATS
(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) AUCKLAND, Oct. 6.
When a Mount Cook Airlines Grumman Goose amphibian landed at Mechanics Bay, Auckland, yesterday, it answered a question puzzling the American pilot, Mr F. Schlienz, who ferried the plane 16,000 miles. “I was wondering all the way if she would float,” said Mr Schlienz, who had to fly the “wrong way” around the world from the United States because of limited flight range.
He took three weeks and landed at airports in Canada, Iceland, Britain, Europe, the Middle East and Australia. The 11-seat Goose, which is an overgrown Widgeon, was built in 1942 and used during the Second World War by the United States Navy.
It was mothballed at the end of the war and bought by Mount Cook Airlines for $150,000. It will go into service on the Auckland-Bay of Islands route on November 1 after minor engineering work and crew training.
The Goose was modified in Miami and was flown to Auckland in Mount Cook livery.
Mr Schlienz, aged 53, of El Paso, Texas, has been a ferry pilot for three years. Formerly a lieutenant-colonel in the United States Air Force, he flew Boeing 707 tankers and has 11,000 hours flying experience on 55 different types of aircraft.
“The trip out here took 140 flying hours because the Goose is not exceptionally fast, cruising about 125 knots,” he said.
